Cortes fine after 3rd start of spring

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Nestor Cortes did not blame the cleats, but he didn’t credit them, either.

After a statistically poor but physically encouraging spring outing on Saturday, Cortes announced that the cleats he wore — jean cleats that were made of denim and included an etched-in Nike swoosh — would be retired.

YANKEES NOTES

Cortes could smile because he came through a third Grapefruit League start feeling OK after shoulder issues sidetracked his 2023 season and part of his offseason.

The Yankees lefty was charged with six runs on nine hits with a walk and six strikeouts in 3 ¹/₃ innings in a 10-7 loss to the Twins at Hammond Stadium in a line that looked worse than it was. Several fly balls found grass on a windy and sunny day, including a would-be flyout from Byron Buxton that became a three-run triple because center fielder Greg Allen couldn’t locate the ball.

Cortes’ command was not pinpoint — manager Aaron Boone said he couldn’t hit the top of the strike zone with his four-seamer — but he said his stuff and shoulder felt fine. He pitched parts of four innings (he was pulled 24 pitches into his second inning but reappeared for the third) and reached 62 pitches.

“The goal coming here was to get my pitch count up again, get four ups, got into the low 60s. And the best part about it was, I came out healthy,” Cortes said. “Happy with where I’m at right now, as far as body-wise. Probably a few pitches there that I could have commanded better, but other than that [I was happy].”

➤ Nick Burdi, a reliever who has been a camp standout, rolled his ankle on a chaotic play in the sixth inning.

Burdi remained in the game. Boone said the righty was icing his ankle but was OK.

➤ The Yankees optioned catcher Agustín Ramírez to Double-A Somerset.